Duncan Article "The Constitutional Vision of Orestes Brownson" Accepted for Publication

Duncan's article examines Orestes Brownson, an overlooked nineteenth-century political thinker on a par with Alexis DeTocqueville’s Democracy in America.

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School of Law Professor Dwight Duncan was accepted for publication in the Spring 2026 issue of Ave Maria Law Review. In the article, "The Constitutional Vision of Orestes Brownson," Duncan revives interest in one of America's most overlooked nineteenth-century political thinkers. Duncan's article follows the remarkable intellectual journey of Orestes Brownson, a complex man who had many religious and political identities before settling on Catholicism in the later years of his life.

Throughout the article, Duncan examines Brownson's 1866 work, The American Republic, and writes about how Brownson developed his mature thought on the Constitution and the American government at a pivotal moment in the nation's history at the end of the Civil War.

The article emphasizes Brownson's remarkable foresight on issues that continue to shape American public life. Duncan highlights Brownson's view of the Constitution in a larger context than just the written text and, in so doing, illustrates how Brownson departed from the standard, social-compact theory of the Constitution that the original framers had in mind.

By connecting Brownson's ideas to modern constitutional debates and Brownson's deep roots in Catholic thought, Duncan demonstrates the enduring relevance of Brownson's political philosophy. The article ultimately portrays Brownson as a principled and independent thinker whose commitment to both the American Republic and the Catholic faith offers valuable insights for religious freedom, undue political influences, and forming a vigilant citizenry.